Chamaeleo Jacksonii Questions

[Rocky]

Hey I am very interested in getting a Jackson Chameleon and I was wondering if someone could help me figure out a few things about them. I have looked around a bit and found out the basics on them but I have a few more questions going through my head about them.

1. Would a mesh reptarium that is 28x16.5x30 be ok for a jackson? If so would it be ok for all species or only certain ones like the dwarf(merumontanus)

2. How can you determine the different species apart? From what I have read there is a demand for Jacksonii Jackosnii, but which throw off the more impressive colors and how easy is it to determine them apart?

3. I realize that they are from a montane species and I was wondering what everyone thought the difficulty level of these chameleons was.

4. Also, I have heard about people getting females that are pre bred and ending up with babies. While I would actually like this...how smart is it?

Thanks

 

[Sang]

Hey I am very interested in getting a Jackson Chameleon and I was wondering if someone could help me figure out a few things about them. I have looked around a bit and found out the basics on them but I have a few more questions going through my head about them.

1. Would a mesh reptarium that is 28x16.5x30 be ok for a jackson? If so would it be ok for all species or only certain ones like the dwarf(merumontanus)

2. How can you determine the different species apart? From what I have read there is a demand for Jacksonii Jackosnii, but which throw off the more impressive colors and how easy is it to determine them apart?

3. I realize that they are from a montane species and I was wondering what everyone thought the difficulty level of these chameleons was.

4. Also, I have heard about people getting females that are pre bred and ending up with babies. While I would actually like this...how smart is it?

Thanks

1. thats a little small, for an adult jacksonii, more appropriate would be 36"x36"x18"/24"


2. jacksonii jacksonii are extremly rare, and almost ALL the time wild caught. the jacksonii xantholophus which are farm more common to find captive bred and in hawaii are easier to obtain and are what FLcham usually has captive breds of. they are more browns, greens, light greens and occasionally some blues and yellows are thrown out. they look almost like jacksonii jacksonii but don't have as vibrant coloring and a slightly different skin/scale shape/texture/patterns.

3. i would put the jacksonii xantho as a more moderate level for keeping, its not impossible, but takes alot more specialty care as opposed to vieleds and panthers.. gotta keep everything right as they like cooler temperatures and will not tolerate hi temps..

4. i would avoid gravid females as you never know the condition in which they were bred, all though its not a horrible idea, it all depends on how much control and knowledge you want to have about your breeding methods.

 

[hallenhe]

My first cham was a Jackson's. I live in Michigan, and chose a Jackson's in part because, as a montane species, they had lower temperature requirements than some; a Jackson's prefers moderate temperatures and can be stressed in upper ranges. I didn't find him more difficult than the panthers, though I have since heard that. I free range, and started him on a chameleon condo (hanging plant setup with a dripper and basking light at the top), and I think very good airflow has been important to my chams' health, which is part of the reason why I don't enclose them. He was never as sociable as the panther, but was definitely a fascinating animal. Unless you really want a C. jacksonii jacksonii (breeding program, e.g.) I would echo the comments to go with one of the more readily available captive bred - should be parasite free, and you can know the exact age. You can also obtain a juvenile, which should help with acclimating the creature.

 

[Champhibians]

2. jacksonii jacksonii are extremly rare, and almost ALL the time wild caught.

Hi about them being almost all wild caught. That is not true. They are only allowed out as being Farmed raised. The last shipment that came in, Is up in the air on if they wre WC or Farmed. I truley believe they were Farmed. My pair came to me flawless, and I have yet to get a flawless WC with no scars or anything.

 

[Kent67]

Hey Tim, are your jacksonii jacksonii still alive? Mine came in as adults, as did all the ones I chose from. They also looked flawless but didn't last very long at all, for "farmed."

 

[Sang]

thanks for the correction champhibian. from what i understood that if anywere taken in, they were not taken and not bred within the united states or UK.

i would honestly love to get one but that probably will be very difficult.

 

[Rocky]

so can you tell the jacksonii jacksonii from the xanth. by the color that it shows off? The J.J. is more colorful I guess. And then of course the dwarfs are smaller?

There are jacksons at a pet store that specializes in reptiles about an hour from where I live and I am probably going to go look at them tomorrow and I just wanted to be able to tell the difference and not get screwed by someone calling it something it's not.

 

[Sang]

ok, left one should be jacksonii xantholophus.

right one is jacksonii jacksonii.

you can somewhat see a slight difference. babies would be almost impossible to tell under a certain age.

and my apologize if these photos belong to anyone, i have them to refrence artwork for when i draw, i have many photos from the forums..

 

[Champhibians]

Hey Tim, are your jacksonii jacksonii still alive? Mine came in as adults, as did all the ones I chose from. They also looked flawless but didn't last very long at all, for "farmed."

I had a female live for a while, just passed away a week ago. But my male died around 3-4 days after I had him shipped to me. He looked very healthy was eating and drinking when he came in. Then shortly after, I turend I the lights and I could not believe he was dead on the floor.

 

[mczoo]

i think jackson's rock. the are much friendlier than my veiled,

i bought a female 4-5 months ago and she just dropped 8 babies.(see my thread in breading). she was essentially a poor buy based on how i choose her and the group i bought her from. She took about 1 mont to acclimate. my other jackson female has done well for 8 months. maybe if you can weight, i will have some to sell. if you buy from a breeder(i am not one), or a place like florida chams i am sure you will be pleased. the most important thing for them is higher humidity and not to cook them with temperature. you will need hu,idifier for vwinter unless you have steam heat

good luck,

Sean

(mine are Xantholophus)